Department for Transport

Aviation: Coronavirus

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on16 June (HL4913),what is their guidance on the social distancing of passengers on board aircraft.

baroness vere of norbiton: On 11 June 2020, the Government published aviation specific guidance. This guidance sets out measures operators should put in place to protect staff and passengers. The guidance to passengers covers all aspects of the travel experience, from checking the public health requirements before booking a flight, to navigating the airport safely and boarding the flight or leaving the airport. As social distancing may not be possible on board all flights, the Government has introduced mitigating measures to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus such as wearing face covering when at the airport and on board an aircraft. These measures will be kept under constant review and updated as and when necessary.

Roads: Safety

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of increased information sharing between agencies responsible for road safety, including the police ,the Health and Safety Executive, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Highways England and the Traffic Commissioners, as well as private sector bodies such as the Motor Insurers’ Bureau; whether any such collaboration is inhibited by the Data Protection Act 2018 and other data protection concerns; and, if so, how they are mitigating these data protection concerns.

baroness vere of norbiton: Data Protection legislation already allows for proportionate sharing of personal data for law enforcement purposes. The legislation also provides mechanisms to do this.In the Refreshed Road Safety Statement in July 2019 we announced the most comprehensive review of roads policing and this reflects our commitment to continuing to reduce the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. The exchange of data pertinent to road safety between agencies and organisations is being explored as part of the review.We will also shortly be launching a Call for Evidence to help us further investigate the link between enforcement, collisions, congestion and crime. Respondents will have the opportunity to outline their views on what could be done to better enable and equip those charged with enforcing traffic laws.

Road Traffic Control: Coronavirus

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) review the success, and (2) extend the duration, of the Traffic Orders Procedure (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government is planning to evaluate the impact of the Traffic Orders Procedure (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020. The evaluation is due to be completed this year and will be used to inform future policy development and any further legislative changes.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Hydrogen

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they haveto give immediate priority to the development of hydrogen as a potential source of energy.

lord callanan: The Government is committed to exploring the development of hydrogen as a strategic decarbonised energy carrier. In line with this we are already investing up to £121m in hydrogen innovation across the value chain and are developing new policy to help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow the UK hydrogen economy. This includes business models to support the deployment of, and investment in, low carbon hydrogen production and a £100m Low Carbon Hydrogen Production Fund to stimulate capital investment. We will be engaging with industry on both schemes throughout the year.

Equal Pay: Ethnic Groups

baroness mcgregor-smith: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish the results of the consultation of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on a mandatory approach to ethnicity pay reporting.

baroness mcgregor-smith: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so, when, they intend to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting.

lord callanan: The Government ran a consultation from October 2018 to January 2019 on Ethnicity Pay Reporting and, we have met with businesses and representative organisations to understand the barriers towards reporting and what information could be published to allow for meaningful action to be taken. We have also run voluntary methodology testing with a broad range of businesses to better understand the complexities outlined in the consultation using real payroll data. On the 14 June, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a new Commission on race and ethnic disparities which will examine continuing racial and ethnic inequalities in Britain and ways Government can address these and improve lives. Further information will be published in due course.

Environment Protection: Employment

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report bythe Local Government Association, Local green jobs—accelerating a sustainable economy recovery, published on 11 June, showing that at least 1.18 million low-carbon jobs need to be created in England by 2050 to meet the Government’s net zero commitment.

lord callanan: As we recover from COVID-19, the Government intends to deliver a UK economy which is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable, and more resilient.In delivering the UK’s net zero target, we are looking to position the UK as a world leader in low carbon technologies, services, and systems. The UK has a strong base to grow from: there are over 460,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country and low carbon exports are already worth billions of pounds each year.We are determined to seize the once-in-a-generation economic opportunities of the net zero transition – creating new business opportunities and up to 2 million green jobs by 2030 across all regions of the UK, and achieving this transition in a way that works for households, businesses and public finances. In doing so, we will build on the strengths we have already developed in low-carbon sectors from offshore wind to green finance.

Climate Change: Coronavirus

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change.

lord callanan: While it is clear that an economic slowdown caused by Covid-19 is likely to have an impact on emissions both domestically and globally, it is too early to know the likely size of the impact and the long-term implications. Domestically, Covid-19 has had a significant short-term effect. For example, BEIS statistics estimate that road fuel sales in the 12 weeks since the 23 March were 48 per cent below the preceding eight weeks, and electricity consumption has also reduced. Renewables have regularly been providing more than 50% of our power and we recently went 67 days without using coal for electricity generation. Internationally, the International Energy Agency estimate global CO2 emissions will fall by around 8% this year, but then rebound with economic recovery. These reductions are likely to be short-term. The fundamental need for the world to act urgently to decarbonise remains. Global emissions need to fall rapidly year on year in line with the Paris Agreement goal. That is why we set out ambitious plans at the Budget, and will be focusing on continuing to develop our net zero strategy in advance of COP26 – including through strengthening our plans for decarbonisation in key sectors. The Government will also continue to lead work on the international economic recovery, striving to deliver a UK and world economy which is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient after this crisis. Through our COP26 and G7 Presidencies, we will work with our international partners to increase climate ambition and address the linked challenges of public health, climate change and biodiversity.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nigeria: Violence

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing for Nigerian citizens who have been displaced by jihadist violence in conflicts invoving herders and farmers.

baroness sugg: We are concerned by intercommunal violence, frequently involving farming and herding communities, however we do not support the characterisation of the clashes as 'jihadist'. We are not aware of evidence of collusion between insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa and perpetrators of intercommunal violence. We are keen to avoid conflating the two issues, which can risk exacerbating tensions.The UK does not provide direct humanitarian funding to people displaced by intercommunal conflict affecting 'Middle Belt' states. DFID is designing a programme to address conflict over natural resources, which will help to address some of the root causes of the violence.The UK also continues to support Nigeria in tackling terrorism in the North East. The UK has committed to providing up to £400 million of humanitarian support to affected communities between 2018-2022, including the provision of vital food assistance for 1.5 million conflict-affected people, preventing malnutrition and creating access to education for vulnerable children. When the security situation improves, we hope that all internally displaced people can return home. The return of people to their homes must be voluntary, based on an informed choice, and made in safety, with dignity, in accordance with international conventions.

China: Coronavirus

baroness crawley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the European Commission that the government of China has run“targeted influence operations and disinformation campaigns" about COVID-19; and whether they are aware of any other attempts by that government to spread false views in order to damage democracy in the West.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government takes the issues of disinformation seriously and our priority is to protect UK citizens from disinformation by any actor. We condemn any intentionally false claims in relation to Covid-19, which are a distraction from the important global efforts and cooperation needed to beat the virus. From the outset of the crisis we have outlined the importance of all countries providing timely, transparent and accurate data as an essential part of an effective response. We are working with our international partners, to protect our democracies against disinformation.

Israeli Settlements

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 19 February (HL1289), what assessment they have made of the government of Israel's planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As we made clear at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 20 May, we are deeply concerned by reports that the new Israeli Government coalition has reached an agreement which may pave the way for annexation of parts of the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this message in his introductory calls with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Gantz on 20 May and Israeli Foreign Minister Ashkenazi on 2 June. The UK position is clear: any unilateral moves towards annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and contrary to international law. We continue to urge Israel not to take these steps.

Iraq and Turkey: Yazidis

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatrepresentations they have made, and intend to make, to the governments of Turkey and Iraq,about assisting the reunion of Yazidis in those countrieswith family members currently living in territory under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government; and what responses they have received.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are committed to supporting the rights of the Yazidi community, like other minority groups, in Iraq and assisting them to reunite their families and overcome the appalling suffering they faced from Daesh. We continue to engage with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on this issue.

North Korea: South Korea

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to call for restraint and a de-escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula, further to the destruction of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office near Kaesong on 16 June.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is concerned by North Korea's unprovoked demolition of the Kaesong Liaison Office and by their recent inflammatory remarks criticising South Korea. We are in contact with international partners and support South Korea in its efforts to maintain calm and stability. The UK is committed to securing peace on the Korean peninsula and the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea.

Iraq: Kurds

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the current security situation in Kirkuk, and (2) the prospects for an eventual settlement of Kirkuk’s status.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The security situation in Kirkuk remains fragile - we are concerned by reports of increased terror attacks in Kirkuk and across the disputed territories over the last few months. The resuming of talks under UN supervision to settle the status of Kirkuk are a welcome sign, and we continue to encourage all sides to work towards resolving their issues. The ongoing priority must remain the defeat of Daesh in order to build stability in the disputed territories.

Palestinians: Christianity

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the number ofpermits granted to Christians from Gaza to visit holy sites in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, or to visit family in the West Bank during Easter and Christmas holidays; and what responses, if any, they have received.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Whilst we have not made representations on this particular issue, our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate-General in Jerusalem do raise issues of religious freedom with the Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority. The Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa also met with representatives of the Holy Land Coordination Group, Bishop Declan Lang and Bishop Christopher Chessun, on 22 June to discuss the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and their work with the Christian community there. The UK recognises that the holy sites of Jerusalem hold particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. We are committed to working with all parties to maintain calm, avoid provocation and uphold the Status Quo in order to ensure the safety and security of the holy sites and all who worship and visit there.

Cui Tai

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about reports that Bishop Augustine Cui Taiwas arbitrarily arrested on 19 June; what is known about his health and whereabouts; and what priority they assign to human rights violations on grounds of religion or belief in the context of UK–China trade deals.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of the arrest of Bishop Augustine Cui Tai, but do not have details of his health and whereabouts. We remain concerned by restrictions placed on Christians and other religious groups in China, including reports of individuals being detained for their beliefs and regularly raise cases of concern with the Chinese authorities.

British Council

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, as part ofthe merger of the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to broaden the brief of the British Council to promote activities, including higher education, outside of the developing world.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Council has a global remit, covering both developed and developing world. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently provides the British Council with non-ODA funding as well as ODA through existing Grant in Aid, which supports British Council arts and cultural activity in over 40 developed countries, such as the recent UK in Japan Season of Culture.

Department for Education

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they willcontinue the provision of food vouchers for children in needbeyond the summer period.

baroness berridge: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals at home, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible. Where this is not possible, we have introduced a national voucher scheme to provide headteachers with additional flexibility to decide what is best for families at their schools. Edenred has reported that over £183 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Wednesday 24 June.More information about the national voucher scheme is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we will be providing additional funding for a COVID Summer Food Fund which will enable families with children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to receive food vouchers covering the 6-week holiday period.Our guidance on the COVID Summer Food Fund is available here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-summer-food-fund.Through the COVID Summer Food Fund, schools can support eligible pupils with a £90 voucher to cover the 6-week holiday period. Schools must order the vouchers at least one week before their school term ends. If a school receives a claim for an eligible child during the final week before the school’s summer holidays, it will be possible for the school to place an exceptional order for that child via our supplier Edenred.We are working to ensure all children can return in September, allowing them to have their free school meal at school. The department will be setting out more detail on plans for September in due course.

Schools: Coronavirus

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they are giving to schools in England on the process for reopening for the autumn term.

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the ability of schools in England to reopen in September will be affected by (1) social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures, (2) staffing levels, (3) accommodation capacity, and (4) financial resources; and whether responsibility for these matters lies with (a) schools, (b) the Department for Education, (c) local authorities, (d) regional schools commissioners, or (e) academy trusts.

baroness berridge: We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends. Our intention is for all children to return to school from September.Within the next two weeks, we will publish further information and guidance to help schools prepare for September. We will be guided by the latest scientific advice and are working with the sector to ensure our guidance provides schools with the further details they need, including any protective measures that may be necessary to keep children and teachers as safe as possible, staffing advice and transport considerations.

Ministry of Justice

Sexual Offences: Gender Recognition

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of (1) rape or attempted rape, and (2) sexual misconduct, by individuals whose sex at birth was male but subsequently identified as female have been reported in (a) women's prisons, and (b) women-only spaces outside of prisons such as changing rooms; and how many of those reports led to prosecutions.

lord keen of elie: There is no reported incident of rape or attempted rape by prisoners who have reported they are declared male on their birth certificate who self-identify as a female in the women’s estate.Between 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019, there were 97 sexual assaults in the women’s estate overall and 7 of these assaults involved a transgender prisoner. Out of those 7 incidents, there were 6 sexual assaults where a transgender prisoner was recorded as the assailant or suspected assailant. In one incident the transgender prisoner was recorded as having ‘active involvement’, which means they did not necessarily start the assault. It is not possible from the records available to confirm whether these transgender prisoners were born male and subsequently identify as female. Other groups of prisoners may also be included, including those born female who identify as male, or who identify as non-binary.We do not hold data for reported assaults that have taken place outside of prison.Strict safeguards are in place to care for and manage transgender individuals in custody while protecting our staff and other service users.Details of transgender prisoners were provided by public and private prisons in England and Wales, between 26 March 2019 and 24 April 2019 following an exercise to gather information from transgender individuals in custody. The figures give an estimate of the number of transgender prisoners based on that exercise and may underestimate the true number. Prisoners who have a full Gender Recognition Certificate are excluded from this dataset.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of any fall in the value of retail properties on the finances of local authorities which have borrowed money from the Treasury and government agencies to acquire investment properties outside the geographical limits of the relevant authorities; and what assessment they have made of whether losses that might arise as a result will affect government funding to such authorities.

lord greenhalgh: When local authorities borrow and invest, they must have regard to the Prudential Framework, to ensure that the capital investment plans are affordable, prudent and sustainable. The Department's statutory investment guidance forms part of this Framework, and it makes clear that authorities should include mitigating actions in their investment strategies if there is a risk that asset values will not be sufficient to cover losses to the capital invested.The Department does not collect data on the regional holdings of local authority owned investment properties. However, throughout this period we have continued to work with local government to ensure we have a collective understanding of the pressures councils are facing, including losses from commercial sources. The Department is working on a comprehensive plan to ensure councils' financial sustainability over the financial year ahead.

Planning Permission

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many planning applications the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has called in since 1 January.

lord greenhalgh: The Secretary of State has called in nine planning applications since 1 January this year.

Planning Permission

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many planning applications were called in by the Secretary of State with responsibility for planning in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, (3) 2017, (4) 2018, and (5) 2019.

lord greenhalgh: These figures are published as part of the Planning Inspectorate’s statistical releases. For the calendar years requested, the figures were as follows:2015 - 262016 - 142017 - 182018 - 72019 - 7

Leisure: Facilities

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of council-run recreational facilities such as leisure centres, parks, and green spaces in tackling obesity; and what plans they have to invest in these services to support their continued financial viability.

lord greenhalgh: Exposure to the natural environment and green space is associated with lower levels of obesity and higher levels of physical activity, but there is unequal access across the population, with those living in the most deprived areas less likely to live in the greenest areas. The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan promotes a sustainable natural environment as a pathway to good health and wellbeing. In the last 2 years Government has also invested £16.3 million on various initiatives to support parks and green spaces, including the Local Authority Parks Improvement Fund; Pocket Parks and Pocket Parks Plus programmes; and the Future Parks Accelerator programme to test and pilot new management and funding models for parks.Grassroots sports facilities like leisure centres are also important parts of their communities and deliver vital health and wellbeing benefits. Sport England announced a £195 million package of support to help community clubs through this crisis. It recently boosted its Community Emergency Fund by a further £15 million to meet the demand, taking the total up to £210 million. The government are continuing to work closely with the sector to understand the issues they face and discuss how we can support them further.

Private Rented Housing: Coronavirus

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their decision to extend the ban on tenant evictions by a further two months, what plans they have to support private landlords with tenants who had already built up rent arrears before the restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic were introduced and who are receiving no income from their property.

lord greenhalgh: The Government has put in place an unprecedented support package to help ensure that tenants are able to pay their rent throughout this period. We have introduced support for business to pay staff salaries with income support also available to the self-employed and have strengthened the welfare safety-net with a nearly £7 billion boost to the welfare system. This includes increasing Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates so that they are set at the 30th percentile of market rents in each area.To support landlords who are experiencing a temporary loss of income, mortgage lenders have agreed to offer payment holidays of up to three months where this is needed due to coronavirus-related hardship, including for buy-to-let mortgages. On 2 June, the Financial Conduct Authority confirmed that borrowers can apply for an extension to any holiday already taken while extending the window for new applications to 31 October. Landlords should contact their lender at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss if the payment holiday is a suitable option for them.

Courts: Housing

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish their response to the consultation Considering the case for a Housing Court, which closed in January 2019; and what are their reasons for not publishing it to date.

lord greenhalgh: We remain committed to working with the judiciary to improve court processes for users and the responses to the Call for Evidence will inform this work. However, it is important that any changes to court processes are considered as part of a wider package of reforms, which will deliver a fairer and more effective private rental market.Our Renters’ Reform Bill will enhance renters’ security and improve protections for tenants by abolishing ‘no-fault’ evictions. However, we want to ensure that under the new tenancy framework, landlords are able to swiftly and smoothly regain their property through the courts where they have a legitimate reason to do so.We will publish our response to the consultation ‘Considering the case for a Housing Court’ in due course.

Private Rented Housing: Coronavirus

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their decision to extend the ban on tenant evictions by a further two months, what provisions are or will be in place to ensure that private landlords, who obtained a legal possession order prior to the suspension of evictions in March, are able to reclaim possession of their properties without further delay.

lord greenhalgh: On 5 June the Government announced that the current suspension of evictions from social or private rented accommodation will be extended by two months until 23 August 2020.From 24 August 2020, the courts will begin to process possession cases again. This is an important step towards ending the lockdown and will protect landlords’ important right to regain their property. Work is underway with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions and that the most vulnerable tenants can get the help they need when possession cases resume.

Windrush Generation: Anniversaries

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the celebration of Windrush Day on 22 June.

lord greenhalgh: I would like to reflect on the success of Windrush Day, which was marked on June 22. This was the second annual National Windrush Day, and the third year that Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has supported celebrations since the 70th anniversary. I would like to thank my Noble friend for his role in initiating these earlier celebrations.The day was well recognised in national and international media, with hundreds of broadcast features, including a piece on BBC’s The One Show  and CNN broadcasting live from Brixton. There were tens of thousands of tweets, instagram and facebook posts shared to celebrate the Windrush Generation and their descendants. This was illustrative of the way in which communities and individuals led the way in marking the day.Supportive messages were delivered by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His Excellency the Jamaican High Commissioner and the Most Reverend Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury.In the midst of challenging circumstances, most of the 49 organisations which received funding from MHCLG’s Windrush Day Grant have demonstrated admirable willingness, aptitude and innovation to deliver their events through online or virtual means. Celebrations were mostly digital, but there were still plenty of them taking place across the country. From Bristol to Birmingham and Leicester to Leeds, grant recipients hosted online exhibitions, radio documentaries and educational workshops and lectures over zoom.I was pleased to take part in the day myself by being hosted on a tour of Reading Museum's online exhibition The Enigma of Arrival . The exhibition was part-funded by MHCLG's Windrush Day Grant and was developed in partnership with the University of the West Indies as well as the Barbados Museum and Historical Society and members of the town's Caribbean community. I was particularly moved by images of men working at the town's Huntley and Palmers Biscuit factory and took a moment to reflect upon the truly vast scope of the Windrush Generation's contribution to all aspects of our national life in the aftermath of the Second World War.I would finally like to reiterate my gratitude to the Windrush Day Advisory Panel, originally convened by my Noble friend, in supporting the funding's delivery and helping ensure that the day is marked appropriately year-on-year.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Racial Discrimination

lord touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much compensation they have paid out in racial discrimination cases brought against the Ministry of Defence in (1) 2016, (2) 2017, (3) 2018, (4) 2019, and (5) 2020.

lord touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many discrimination cases concerning racism have been brought against the Ministry of Defence by (1) current, and (2) former, employees in each year since 2010.

baroness goldie: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that unacceptable behaviour, including racism, still occurs. We are committed to eradicate this, and have a zero-tolerance approach. Defence, does not yet represent society and it is essential that we work towards this. We recognise that the pace of change needs to quicken and are renewing our ambition at the highest levels of the Department. We aim to eliminate discrimination and improve diversity throughout Defence as enshrined in our 2018-2030 Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Strategy .Legal advice has interpreted the terms “racial discrimination cases” and “discrimination cases involving racism” to refer to Employment Tribunals (ETs). The attached tables show the number of ETs brought against the MOD by military personnel in each year from 2010 to-date, and the breakdown of compensation paid in each year from 2016-2020 as a result of racial discrimination ETs.All MOD personnel (civilian and military) are required to complete mandatory D&I Training courses. In addition, those trained as D&I Advisers and Practitioners provide impartial advice and support to personnel who encounter discrimination, bullying and harassment. This is supplemented by Speak Safe Volunteers, trained independent bullying, harassment & discrimination advisers who enable individuals to understand their situation and make informed decisions. An Active Bystander training course has also been designed to equip personnel with the skills to effectively challenge unacceptable behaviour. 



Race Discrimination
(Word Document, 14.58 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Disadvantaged

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that no one resident in theUK will suffer hardship with which they cannot cope in the next year.

baroness stedman-scott: This Government’s current focus is on supporting people whose finances have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including through income protection schemes, mortgage holidays and additional support for renters. For those most in need, we have injected more than £6.5 billion into the welfare system, increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by over £1,000 for this financial year. We have also increased Local Housing Allowance rates - putting an average of £600 into people’s pockets.

Personal Independence Payment

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) average, (2) longest, and (3) shortest, clearance time for a (a) claim, (b) mandatory reconsideration, and (c) successful appeal outcome to be implemented, in relation to Personal Independence Payment in each of the last 13 months.

baroness stedman-scott: Tables 1 shows the Median, Lower Quartile and Upper Quartile of the number of weeks taken for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim to receive an initial decision from registration. This data covers both PIP New Claims and Reassessments from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for each month from April 2019 – April 2020, the most recent 13 months for which data is available. Table 2 shows the Median, Lower Quartile and Upper Quartile of the number of calendar days taken for a PIP Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) to be cleared from registration. This data covers all MRs cleared each month from April 2019 – April 2020, the most recent 13 months for which data is available. A copy of the tables is attached. Please note that information about the extremes of a distribution (e.g. the maximum clearance time) risks being disclosive. We would not release this information publicly. Therefore, we have presented information on the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of clearance times. The information requested on the clearance times for a successful appeal outcome to be implemented is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.



Tables for Parliamentary Question HL5788
(PDF Document, 128.04 KB)

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) average, (2) longest, and (3) shortest, clearance time for a (a) mandatory reconsideration, and (b) successful appeal outcome to be implemented, in relation to Employment and Support Allowance in each of the last 13 months.

baroness stedman-scott: Table 1 below shows the Median, Lower Quartile and Upper Quartile of the clearance time of Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This data covers ESA MRs from Work Capability Assessments (WCA) for each month from April 2019 – April 2020, the most recent 13 months for which data is available.  Table 1: Clearance time of MR decisions for ESA Work Capability Assessments, in calendar days, by month of decision, April 2019 to April 2020: Great Britain MonthMedianLower QuartileUpper QuartileApr-1912914May-199710Jun-19869Jul-19859Aug-19638Sep-19648Oct-19637Nov-197411Dec-19121014Jan-20161022Feb-20758Mar-20638Apr-207312 Please note that information about the extremes of a distribution (e.g. the maximum clearance time) risks being disclosive. We would not release this information publicly. Therefore, we have presented information on the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of clearance times. The information requested on the clearance times for a successful appeal outcome to be implemented is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Data Source: Decision Maker and Appeals Case Recorder Computer System claimant records NotesThe average clearance time is derived by calculating the median number of days taken from the date when the Benefit Centre has determined that the Mandatory Reconsideration is a true MR, to the date the decision is cleared by the decision maker in the Dispute Resolution Team.The table shows the median clearance time of mandatory reconsiderations cleared within a given calendar month. The median number of days is the middle value if you were to order all the times within the distribution from lowest value to highest value. The median is presented as the average instead of the mean because the mean can be unduly affected by outlying cases.Definition of Quartiles: The lower quartile is the value for which 25 per cent of all clearance times fall below if you were to order the distribution from lowest value to highest value. The upper quartile is the value for which 75 per cent of all clearance times fall below if you were to order the distribution from lowest value to highest value.MR refers to Mandatory Reconsideration - the formal review process requested by the customer. MR incorporates all MRs raised in the WCA process and also includes Reconsiderations raised following the WCA.Only claims with a cleared MR decision are included.There may be an element of retrospection in the figures for the latest month; they may change when more up to date information is included.MR median clearance times are published here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Universal Credit: Appeals

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) average, (2) longest, and (3) shortest, clearance time for a (a) mandatory reconsideration, and (b) successful appeal outcome to be implemented, in relation to Universal Credit in each of the last 13 months.

baroness stedman-scott: Table 1 below shows the Median, Lower Quartile and Upper Quartile of the number of days taken for a Universal Credit (UC) Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) to be cleared from registration. This data covers all UC MRs for each month from May 2019 – May 2020, the most recent 13 months for which data is available. Table 1: Average Clearance Times from UC MR registration to clearance in days from May 2019 – May 2020 MonthLower QuartileMedianUpper QuartileMay-19174888Jun-1992444Jul-19112440Aug-1992234Sep-19102238Oct-1992253Nov-1992378Dec-1982173Jan-201027158Feb-2082395Mar-20123092Apr-2062243May-2063879 Please note that information about the extremes of a distribution (e.g. the maximum clearance time) risks being disclosive. We would not release this information publicly. Therefore, we have presented information on the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of clearance times. The information requested on the clearance times for a successful appeal outcome to be implemented is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. NotesFigures are for Great Britain only.This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.The median is presented as the average instead of the mean because the mean can be unduly affected by outlying cases.Definition of Lower Quartile: The lower quartile is the value for which 25 per cent of all clearance times fall below if you were to order the distribution from lowest value to highest value.Definition of median: The median time is the middle value if you were to order all the times within the distribution from lowest value to highest value.Definition of Upper Quartile: The upper quartile is the value for which 75 per cent of all clearance times fall below if you were to order the distribution from lowest value to highest value.

Employment Schemes: Disability

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures have been put in place since the publication of the National Audit Office report, Supporting Disabled People to Work, to better measure the outcomes of their job centre offer, specifically around measuring (1) progress towards work; (2) time spent with customers; (3) customer satisfaction; and (4) data on satisfaction or quality of referrals to third party provision.

baroness stedman-scott: Since the National Audit Office’s report on Supporting was published in March 2019, we have been working to fulfil all of its recommendations. For example, as part of the evaluations of Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support, we will measure the impact of the programmes on participant employment outcomes. We have invested in 60 minutes additional work coach time per claimant per year to offer ‘supportive steps’. For some claimants, this extra support may include activities and tailored support around work options, journey towards work and work preparation activity. In September 2019, the Department created a Customer Experience Directorate to further our commitment to improve customer service. We have strong oversight of DWP contracted employment provision. Since the publication of the report we have reviewed and revised our commercial processes.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take in response to the report by the World Wide Fund for Nature COVID-19: urgent call to protect people and nature, published on 17 June, in particular regard to addressing the environmental drivers of pandemics.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: The Government welcomes this and other recent reports that have made the case for swift action to prevent a repeat of this devastating pandemic. We remain fully committed to tackling the environmental drivers of pandemics, including by reversing global biodiversity loss, tackling unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade, and driving up standards in food production and food safety around the world. Nature must be at the heart of our recovery and the UK will play a leading role in securing this, including by pressing for an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Air Pollution and Road Traffic

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent traffic congestion and air pollution from rising above pre-COVID-19 levels.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: Air pollution poses one of the biggest environmental threats to public health. Our ambitious plans to decarbonise transport, improve air quality and support more active forms of travel have not changed, including the £3.8 billion we are already investing to clean up our air. Our recent rapid call for evidence will ensure we can fully understand the impact that coronavirus is having on changes in air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure.The decision to manage congestion in towns and cities is ultimately one for the relevant local highways authority, and they are considering a range of measures to encourage and retain active travel. To support this, on 9 May the Government announced a £2 billion package of funding for active travel over the next 5 years from the £5 billion buses, cycling and walking funding announced by the Prime Minister on 11 February.Local authorities already have a range of powers to take action to reduce pollution from road vehicles. Through the Environment Bill we are improving co-operation within the Local Air Quality Management framework to widen the range of bodies that play a role in improving local air quality, including neighbouring local authorities and relevant public bodies, ensuring action is taken by all key players to tackle pollution sources and to improve air quality locally.Additionally we are working hard to implement our World leading Clean Air Strategy, which focuses on reducing broader emissions beyond road transport.

Home Office

Visas: Skilled Workers

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have provided to sponsored workers currently not in the UK and unable to return due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and what plans they have to take account of COVID-19 travel restrictions when calculating the number of days that a Tier 2 visa applicant has been outside of the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has published a range of immigration information for those affected by COVID, including those sponsored to work in the UK. COVID immigration information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders.The Government will not penalise individuals affected by issues relating to COVID which are beyond their control. Whilst cases will need to be considered on a case by case basis, we will not penalise people who have been outside of the UK for longer than normally permitted where the absence is as a result of COVID travel restrictions, at the point at which they come to apply for a new visa or indefinite leave to remain.

Fines: Ethnic Groups

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that police in England and Wales have been found to be six times more likely to fine BAME people in the COVID-19 lockdown.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is clear that nobody should be subject to police enforcement on the basis of race. This is why we are working closely with policing partners to analyse the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) data to determine if there has been a disproportionate impact on people from BAME backgrounds, or any other protected characteristic.

Police: Road Traffic Control

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received the recent report of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services on roads policing; and when they expect that report to be published.

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include an assessment of roads policing in their annual assessments of the efficiency of police forces.

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the annual reviews by Police and Crime Commissioners include significant sections dealing with the effectiveness of their forces’ road policing obligations; and what plans they have to make inclusion of roads policing in those annual reviews mandatory.

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect that all police forces will adopt the use of the CRaSH road collision and casualty reporting system.

baroness williams of trafford: The government have received a draft report of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) on roads policing. The date for publication will be decided by HMICFRS. The HMICFRS consultation on its proposals for a new framework for future PEEL inspections is currently suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We will respond to these proposals as and when the consultation process is resumed. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are responsible for the totality of policing within their force area. This includes ensuring the Chief Constable delivers an effective and efficient police service to meet the priorities of the local community. PCCs are required to set out their strategic objectives in a Police and Crime Plan following consultation with the public and local partners.

Treasury

Audiobooks: VAT

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to remove the application of VAT to sales of audiobooks.

lord agnew of oulton: An extension of the zero rate of VAT has been introduced to provide consistency in approach between certain physical and digital publications.Audiobooks are already taxed consistently at the standard rate in both physical and digital format.There are no current plans to extend the VAT zero rate to audiobooks. However, the Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.